The Dallas Wings entered the 2025 WNBA season with optimism and lofty expectations.
With the selection of Paige Bueckers in the draft, a generational talent hailed as the future of the league, and the addition of seasoned veterans like NaLyssa Smith, DiJonai Carrington, and Tyasha Harris, the team seemed poised to make a deep playoff run.
However, the season has unraveled into a frustrating series of losses, despite standout performances from their star rookie.
On the court, Bueckers has delivered everything the Wings hoped for and more. Game after game, she has put up elite numbers and led the team in scoring.
But the results haven’t followed. After their most recent loss, the Wings sit at 8-20 and are six games out of the playoff picture, clinging to 11th place in the standings.
Their 20th loss of the season has brought even more urgency to their situation, as the trade deadline looms just days away.
Growing frustration and leadership under scrutiny
As the season spirals, the conversation has shifted toward leadership, both on the sidelines and in the front office.
Fans and analysts alike are questioning whether the franchise should continue trying to push for wins this year or pivot toward building for the future.
On Bleacher Report’s WNBA show, insider Jordan Robinson broke down the Wings‘ situation with unfiltered honesty: “You have Paige Bueckers, your All-Star rookie, your player that you’re gonna build this franchise around. She needs help. She needs help. She needs a new coach and she needs help.”
Robinson‘s comments reflect growing fan frustration with head coach Chris Koclanes. Once praised for his defensive schemes, Koclanes has come under fire for slow starts, questionable late-game decisions, and his inability to galvanize the defense, an area he was expected to improve.
Further discussing the team’s direction, Robinson added: “Do you get the help before the season ends? Do you try to trade away the players who have played well all season? Or even a Maddy Siegrist who’s back from injury to try to get draft picks… Aziaha James and JJ Quinerly [are] having amazing years for their rookie season, but, it’s not enough.”
It’s clear that the core pieces are promising, but not yet enough to compete at a high level.
Curt Miller’s history of bold moves could define the Wings’ future
If there’s anyone capable of orchestrating a major mid-season shake-up, it’s Dallas GM Curt Miller. His resume as an aggressive decision-maker is well established.
After replacing Latricia Trammell last year, Miller’s first task was hiring a head coach, enter Chris Koclanes. From there, Miller engineered a blockbuster four-team trade, landing several key players including DiJonai Carrington, Tyasha Harris, and NaLyssa Smith.
Smith has since been flipped to Las Vegas for a valuable 2027 first-round pick, proof of Miller’s long-term vision.
But plans don’t always survive injuries. Harris was ruled out for the season early on, and since then, Dallas has suffered a series of injuries across the roster, including Carrington, Siegrist, and even Bueckers herself. These setbacks have derailed what once looked like a promising campaign.
Yet, expectations don’t disappear with injuries. With a talent like Bueckers on the roster, the pressure to win, or at least build toward winning, intensifies.
As Robinson noted, “For the Dallas Wings, Curt Miller as a GM has not been afraid to shake things up and add different trades in there. He’s already made a ton of moves.”
Whether Miller chooses to double down on this season or pivot to the future with more trades remains to be seen. One thing is clear: the next few days could be pivotal in defining the future of the Dallas Wings and the legacy of Paige Bueckers in her rookie year.
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